Playing - But Not Actually Completing Anything - in my Art Journal

"We're all a beautiful, wonderful work in progress. . . Embrace the process!"

-- Nanette Mathews

New YouTube video is up!

Join me as I play - but not actually, technically, realistically finish anything - in my art journal.

I hope you enjoy the colorful, sparkly process:

With love,

Kristin xo

Week Two: Mint Chocolate Chip!

"U"

8 x 8 Canvas Flag

It's week Two of The Summer of Color 2: Ice Cream Inspirations and our second prompt is to create anything we'd like using the "Flavor" of the week, Mint Chocolate Chip . . . .

This little girl was created in the same manner as the week before, with a piece of primed canvas material, watercolor and acrylic paints and this time, a sparkling bow encrusted with fine glitter and pale blue Swarovski crystals.

Hungry for more? Check out the next delicious inspiration found directly above . . . .

Ice Cream Kisses,

Kristin xo

Week One: Rainbow Sherbet!

"S"

8 x 8 Canvas Flag

It's Week One of The Summer of Color 2: Ice Cream Inspirations and our first prompt is to create something - anything really - using the colors found within Rainbow Sherbet . . . .

For my part, I've decided to paint a series of six canvas flags which will be bound together at the conclusion of the event to create a banner (or "bunting" which I recently learned from the lovely Missy K) suitable for hanging.

This little one was first sketched in pencil (on a gessoed piece of canvas fabric) before being enhanced with acrylics, Caran D'ache watercolor crayons and glittering (Sakura) gel pens. The white polka dots sparkle too, thanks to some iridescent Stickles glitter laid on top. A handmade fabric flower with a vintage button center and some white pom-pom trim complete the look.

Now on to Week Two and another delicious "flavor" to inspire us . . . .

Ice Cream Kisses,
Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday: Week 12

Happy PPF!

Can't wait to show you what I've been working on . . . .

Okay, so if you read this post about "A Boy & His Guitar," then you know I've been working on some annual Birthday Gifts that I give to my little friends Camden and Ashton, a brother and sister who were born on the same day exactly seven years apart.

Well, Ashton's is now complete, and this time around, I took step-by-step pictures of the gift - a 20 x 20 decorative canvas pillow - as it was being created. I've never painted a pillow before, but when I saw the canvas case online recently, I knew that I wanted to give it a try. Wanna see the process?  

Canvas case covered in Gesso and sketched in pencil

Adding color with Caran D'ache watercolor and acrylic paints

Finished with metallic and gel pens, additional pencil and polka dots

Oh! And a handmade fabric flower with a Swarovski crystal button for her hair

"Love Lives Here"

I know the colors will compliment her room (because I helped her Mom decorate it ;) and I hope that the (newly) 12-year-old will love it as much as I love her!

Thanks for your time and have fun at the Party . . . .

Kristin xo

Mind. Body. Soul. (Art Journaling)

"Do South"

5 x 8 Strathmore Watercolor Journal

I've been having so much fun with my friend Leslie's online course, Mind. Body. Soul. Each week - among beautiful words of wisdom and positivity - she has suggested a one word journal prompt for us to explore. I'm happy to report that not only am I up-to-date (sorry, Life Book, I'm coming for you, I swear!) but I am also learning from the process of "letting go" within it. 

I have to admit that although I've always strived to make my journal pages "authentic" and from the heart, they have until now still been an attempt to create pretty pictures as well. In other words, I usually have the end result in mind while I am creating . . . . But not these days. I find myself learning more by doing more and working fast. Learning to go with my gut and not think about what it will look like in the end. 

The first page for the word of the week - DO - is below:

Rub-ons, stamping, vintage text and clip art.

"Ma" and "Pa" are written on the body of the birds.

A punched hole shows a sneak peek of the next page.

The back of the tag from the previous page, which you can see here.

The second page for the word, "DO" was inspired by a picture of Kendra and her tiny tot pony tails. I knew I wanted to incorporate this shot for a page inspired by her baby hair. Here is the original:

Easter, 2007

"Do you know?"

Stamped images colored with watercolor crayons and gel pens.

Text reads: "I am afraid this may be the last time."

Image printed with low ink and glued to the page.

I wanted to share this discovery ( new to me ;) I made today while trying to incorporate Kendra's picture on the page. When I went to print it out, I noticed that I was dangerously low on ink. Instead of changing the cartridges right away, I thought I'd see what would happen if I didn't. The result was a pink, distorted image that I loved. So I glued it to the page and went for it, color lines and all. Hmmm, I think I may print out a few more shots like this before I get fresh ink . . . .

Thank you for your time! 

Please feel free to check out Mind. Body. Soul. for next week's word, "Overcome." 

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 3)

"A Mother is Born"

8 x 10 WIP

Has this ever happened to you? You think your piece is complete, you get all ready to take brilliant shots of your new work . . . . and once you're behind the camera, you realize that your painting isn't done . . . 

Yeah, that's me today; thinking I was all finished with this when clearly, the photographs proved that I was not.  So, I hope you don't mind my sharing a tiny little WIP with you instead. At least I can now see what needs to be done. 

Speaking of which, has anyone seen my automatic pencil? I last saw it under a pile of Caran d'ache crayons and paper tape . . . .

Happily linking to The Paint Party:

And wishing you a beautiful weekend,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 1!)

"Little Blue Girl"

4 x 4 Canvas Panel

I found the coolest set of canvas panels - all 4 x 4 in size - perfect for tiny moments of inspiration. This week, I'm joining Party with my first, "Little Blue Girl." She started life like this:

Panel covered in decorative paper and a rough sketch before being sanded and sealed with clear gesso.

I then added color with acrylic and Caran D'Ache watercolor crayons, crackle medium, charcoal, oil pastels, Stickles glitter and a bedazzled butterfly. 

Thanks for looking! I'll see you at the Party . . . .

Kristin xo

Baby Face

"Baby Face"

6 x 6 Chunky Cavas

I know. I know. Looks familiar, right? Actually, it's the third in what has become a series for me. Okay, so if you don't recall, I started with this piece in response to a prompt from Sunday Postcard Art. That turned in to this which I made as a gift for my childhood friend's baby shower. Now, for the shower piece, I used colors that were specific to that family's needs (their eye color surrounded by the colors found in the baby-to-be's nursery) and included her name in crystals on the side of the canvas.

Well, as art would have it, those pieces inspired this - a  6 x 6 chunky canvas version of the same in which I was able to use all of my favorite colors. I found myself using bolder strokes and brighter hues this time - and fussing less with the subtleties. This one is "rougher" and more whimsical and truth be told, I think I like it the best so far . . . Now . . . I think I need a green-eyed version . . . Oh! How about lavender eyes . . . or . . .

This one's for you Leslie - good luck with your event for Lizzy. I know that it will be a tremendous success.

Kristin xo

SPA: Faces

"Baby Face"

6 x 4

When I read this week's prompt at Sunday Postcard Art, I knew that I wanted to create a Face that was large and sweet. I pictured big eyes and a pouty mouth and got to work creating this little one with watercolor paper, Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons, acrylic and ink. Once she was done, I adhered her to a piece of 6 x 4 decorative cardstock that was doodled with a silver metallic pen and dotted with Stickles glitter. Tiny freckles served as the final touch.

Thank you for looking! I look forward to seeing all of your Faces this week . . .

Kristin xo

SPA: Hobbies & Pastimes

"She Liked to Play with Glitter"

6 X 4 corrugated cardboard

This week's theme for Sunday Postcard Art is Hobbies or Pastimes. I thought I'd have a go at the challenge (I'm a newbie to SPA) and create a girlie-girl whose hobby is to play with glitter (It's a stretch, I know) . . .

This piece was created on a 6 x 4 cutout of corrugated cardboard which was ripped, gessoed and washed with iridescent glitter and pale pink water-soluble wax pastels. The edges were further distressed with the back of a knife and then stamped with a swirl stamp before adding (silver Stickles) glitter. The girl was made on watercolor paper with acrylics, gel pens and Caran d'Ache crayons before being cut out and added to the background. Her paint pallet is comprised of globs of glitter. Final touches include more Stickles glitter on the dress and a dot on the whites of her eyes.

Thanks for looking! I look forward to seeing what everyone else does this week. . .

Kristin xo

Still Art-ing (Result)!

"Be Fearless"

8 x 10 Canvas Panel

Wire accents & Swarovski crystals on wallpaper background

She's finished: I may not have my Christmas cards out yet, but hey, this is complete (and was much more fun to do!) . . . This little tightrope walker was inspired by the work we did in Willowing's class while at the same time (hopefully) being representative of me and the materials I like to work with . . .

"Be Fearless" was created on an 8 x 10 canvas panel covered in decorative wallpaper. I roughed it up a bit with sandpaper before adding water-soulble oil pastels, silver glitter and stamped stars (with gold ink) for depth. The figure of the girl was first created on cold pressed watercolor paper using acrylic, water-soluble crayons and glitter gel pens before being cut out and added to the background. The tightrope was made from a piece of wire which was tied to the canvas through punched holes and brads. I added both iridescent Swarovski beads to the wire and flatback crystals (in a deep purple) to the background. Final touches include a crown made from the scraps of the original painting and the words, "Be Fearless" stamped with gold ink (and enhanced with gold gel pen) on the bottom.

Thanks for looking! Now, onto those Christmas cards . . . xo

Moleskine: Eyes II

"She had stars in her eyes"

5 x 8 Moleskine Journal

Finished! Close inspection reveals dictionary pages with the words, "Eye" and "Star" as the base, upon which several layers of painted and brayered (if this is not a word, it should be ;) on acrylic, water-soluble crayons and gel pens are added. The cut out image of the chair on the right is from The Graphics Fairy. Other details include an eyebrow formed with the words, "A small piece of combustible composition - resembles a star" in addition to various swirl and star stamps, metallic gold and white gel pen, Stickles glitter and (surprise, surprise) Swarovski crystals . . . xo